Maiden winner Wild Wild Posse, from the barn of trainer Doug O'Neill, and Myung Kwan Cho's non-winner Street Hero have joined the potential field for Wednesday's 61st Grade I, $250,000 Del Mar Futurity at 7 furlongs on the main track.
Wild Wild Posse, a $210,000 yearling purchase at the 2007 Keeneland September sale, is owned by Vinery Stables and Jeff Singer. He was a winner at first asking August 9 at Del Mar, finishing 1 1/2 lengths in front at 6 1/2 furlongs.
The colt has had excuses the past two outings, steadied at the eighth pole in the nose loss to Charlie's Moment and then stuck on the rail in his last race.
The addition of the sons of Posse and Street Cry bring the potential Futurity field to 10. Committed earlier were Arashi Cat, Believe in Hope, Escalon, Southern Exchange, Kelly Leak, Blazing Spirit, Midshipman and Coronet of a Baron, who worked 5 furlongs this morning in 1:00.40.
Southern Exchange, in from Canada, and Street Hero will have to be supplemented to the race for $10,000, since they were not original nominees.
Entries will be made and post positions drawn Sunday for the meeting's final day of racing. Entries will be taken Sunday, also, for two other stakes races closing day -- the Pirate's Bounty Handicap at 6 furlongs on the main track and the Daisycutter Handicap at 5 furlongs on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course.
2003 PACIFIC CLASSIC CHAMP CANDY RIDE SIRE OF DEBUTANTE PAIR
Two promising juvenile fillies from Candy Ride's first crop to race could deliver a knockout punch for the stallion prospects of the 2003 Pacific Classic winner in Monday's Grade I, $250,000 Del Mar Debutante.
Carrying his sire line into the 7-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies is the probable favorite, the undefeated Evita Argentina, and impressive Del Mar maiden winner Candilejas.
In her most recent start, Evita Argentina won Del Mar's Grade III Sorrento Stakes August 6 and ranks as Candy Ride's biggest purse earner so far with $118,800. She will pack high weight of 121 pounds, along with stablemate Emmy Darling, who won Hollywood Park's Landaluce Stakes prior to finishing fourth in the Sorrento before being moved up to third through disqualification.
The two will spot their foes from two to six pounds. The six-pound edge goes to Christopher Paasch trainee Stardom Bound, who is winless but impressive in two career runner-up efforts, both at Del Mar.
There are three supplemental entries in the field of 12. They are Palacio de Amor, trained by owner Myung Kwan Cho; Will O Way, a half-sister to 2005 Horse of the Meeting Willow O Wisp and trained by Vladimir Cerin, and Saucey Evening, a Cal-bred that finished a strong second in the C.T.B.A. Stakes July 18 for trainer H. Graham Motion.
Trifecta King, who won Hollywood Park's Cinderella Stakes before finishing 10th in the Sorrento, is second high weight at 119.
The other four in the field, all maiden winners, are Glitter City, Montana Fields, Turtle Creek Babe and Empressive Lady.
The Debutante, as the ninth race on the card, closes out a three-stakes program on Labor Day.
FULL FIELD OF 12 SET FOR I'M SMOKIN FOR 2-YEAR-OLD CAL-BREDS
Twelve 2-year-olds bred in California will go to the post Monday in the $100,000 I'm Smokin Stakes at 6 furlongs on the main track, and will be the first of three stakes races on Labor Day.
The I'm Smokin will run as the day's fifth race.
Babs Moosa, on a three-race win streak, including Del Mar's Graduation Stakes July 23, will carry high weight of 124 pounds, including jockey Garrett Gomez.
Trainers Barry Abrams and J. Eric Kruljac will go after the top prize with two horses. Mensa Heat and Brushburn, both sons of Unusual Heat and maiden winners at this meeting, will represent Abrams, while Kruljac will saddle The Bat Signal and Miguel's Mascot, also maiden winners at the seashore.
Here's the lineup from the rail, with weights and riders: Control Seeker, 118, Russell Baze; Babs Moosa; Mensa Heat, 116, Clinton Potts; Dashwood, 116, Luis Contreras; Four Ninety Nine B, 116, William Antongeorgi III; The Bat Signal, 116, Jose Campos; Lordgivemealift, 120, Tyler Baze; Miguel's Mascot, 118, Rafael Bejarano; Turbo Call, 118, Julio Garcia; Lucky Primo, 118, Joel Rosario; Brushburn, 116, Joe Talamo; Jack Flash, 118, Martin Garcia.
Two also-eligibles are listed, too: Best of Intentions, 116, Alonso Quinonez, and Capital Cat, 116, with Antongeorgi on a second call.
OLD WARRIOR PERFECT DRIFT TRIES WINDY SANDS AT A MILE
With career earnings amounting to more than all of the other horses figuring to go to the gate, Perfect Drift drops out of his history of running with the top horses around to try the $80,000 Windy Sands Handicap at a mile Monday as the second of three stakes races on the Labor Day.
The 9-year-old son of Dynaformer will be making his fourth start for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella after spending all of his previous racing seasons with Murray Johnson, who has retired from the training business. Career earnings total $4,703,821 from a record of 11 wins, 14 seconds and six thirds in 49 career starts.
The total earnings for the other nine in the race comes to $2,623,887.
In his three starts for Mandella, Perfect Drift has finished fourth in Hollywood Park's Grade I Shoemaker Mile, eighth in the Grade I Hollywood Gold Cup and fourth in an allowance/optional claiming event at Del Mar July 28.
As for the future of the 9-year-old, Mandella said this morning the only conversations about his future he's had with owner Dr. William A. Reed of Stonecrest Farm has centered on the ability to be competitive. "The owner has told me that as long as I think he can be competitive, he'll keep running," Mandella said, adding, "Right now he's training, looking good and I think he should run well."
Among Perfect Drift's foes will be the speedy Johnny Eves, who will try to carry that speed a mile instead of his usual sprint distances. In his most recent try, he was seventh of nine in Del Mar's Grade I Bing Crosby Handicap July 27 at 6 furlongs.
Here's the lineup, from the rail: Perfect Drift, 116, Victor Espinoza; Five Star Thief, 115, Joel Rosario; Lang Field, 119, Jon Court; Johnny Eves, 119, David Flores; Timias, 115, Tyler Baze; Albertus Maximus, 115, Rafael Bejarano; Add Heat, 115, Alex Solis; Dilemma, 116, Garrett Gomez; Cheroot, 116, Mike Smith; Mr. Napper Tandy, 115, Joe Talamo.
Albertus Maximus will be making his first start for Vladimir Cerin.
FOUR HANDICAPPING SESSIONS CLOSE OUT THE FINAL WEEKEND
Del Mar fans get four chances to hone their handicapping skills this weekend, beginning today with the regular Daily Racing Form sessions from 2:30 to 3 p.m. at the Seaside Terrace at the head of the stretch. As usual, the team of Steve Andersen and Brad Free will offer handicapping tips and will preview the day's card.
On Saturday, author-writer-handicapper Steve Davidowitz makes his annual jaunt to the seashore to hold forth at the Seaside Terrace from 12:30 to 1:15. Racing broadcaster Kurt Hoover is the guest handicapper for the Sunday seminar and John "Johnnie B" Bucalo, the racetracker's racetracker, will offer his insights on Monday.
The Sunday and Monday sessions will be at the same time and place as Saturday's.
MAIN TRACK MAINTENANCE:
On Tuesday, the Polytrack surface was power-harrowed and rototilled to a depth of six (6") inches. The track was returned to training and racing depth of approximately two inches and consistency through Gallop Mastering and watering.
Thursday, there were three loads of water (by water truck) added to the racetrack between training and racing time. Additionally, there will be one load of water applied to the running lanes after the day's second race.
Barring notable weather changes, a similar watering pattern will be followed each racing day, with the exception of Fridays and its later start.
On Fridays, following training hours, the track will be power-harrowed to a depth of four (4") inches, then returned to training and racing depth and consistency through Gallop Mastering and watering. No additional water will be added to the track during the racing card Fridays.
SHORE LINES -- The season's final Daybreak at Del Mar sessions will be held Saturday and Sunday from 7:30 to 9:30 in the Clubhouse Terrace Restaurant with trackside announcer Jeff Bloom answering questions and identifying horses going through their morning workouts ... A free concert by Devo in the infield will be held after the races Saturday as part of the track's microbrew festival ... Jockey Photo Day holds sway on Monday from noon to 1 in the Plaza de Mexico.
TRAKUS FACTS -- Thurs., 8/28 -- Peak Speed: Race 1 (Polytrack) -- Tizzalating -- 43.2 mph (first eighth); Race 6 (Turf) -- Restless Soul -- 41.2 mph (first 15/16ths); Fastest Late Stretch Run: Race 7 (Polytrack) -- Wake Up Maggie -- 37.8 mph (final 16th); Race 6 (Turf) -- Restless Soul -- 37.4 mph (final 16th).
DEL MAR COMBINED JOCKEY & TRAINER STATISTICS
(Current Through Thursday, August 28, 2008)
Jockey -- Mts -- 1st -- 2nd -- 3rd -- Win% -- Money Won
Rafael Bejarano -- 200 -- 39 -- 42 -- 41 -- 20% -- $2,282,834
Joel Rosario -- 216 -- 32 -- 30 -- 34 -- 15% -- $1,427,359
Tyler Baze -- 187 -- 31 -- 26 -- 24 -- 17% -- $1,500,050
Garrett Gomez -- 130 -- 29 -- 17 -- 19 -- 22% -- $2,378,659
Victor Espinoza -- 140 -- 14 -- 16 -- 13 -- 10% -- $817,742
Martin Pedroza -- 110 -- 14 -- 12 -- 12 -- 13% -- $526,473
Michael Baze -- 117 -- 13 -- 14 -- 6 -- 11% -- $677,087
Alex Solis -- 114 -- 12 -- 20 -- 19 -- 11% -- $903,460
Joseph Talamo -- 129 -- 12 -- 13 -- 10 -- 9% -- $612,175
Martin Garcia -- 117 -- 11 -- 17 -- 13 -- 9% -- $579,864
Trainer -- Sts -- 1st -- 2nd -- 3rd -- Win% -- Money Won
John W. Sadler -- 104 -- 27 -- 24 -- 9 -- 26% -- $1,912,011
Jeff Mullins -- 71 -- 17 -- 17 -- 8 -- 24% -- $594,335
Mike R. Mitchell -- 73 -- 16 -- 8 -- 14 -- 22% -- $937,730
Doug F. O'Neill -- 94 -- 14 -- 17 -- 16 -- 15% -- $755,318
Jerry Hollendorfer -- 47 -- 13 -- 4 -- 11 -- 28% -- $475,849
Jack Carava -- 41 -- 7 -- 7 -- 6 -- 17% -- $285,844
Peter Miller -- 35 -- 7 -- 7 -- 2 -- 20% -- $255,536
J. Eric Kruljac -- 21 -- 7 -- 5 -- 1 -- 33% -- $237,480
Julio C. Canani -- 46 -- 7 -- 4 -- 7 -- 15% -- $568,517
Barry Abrams -- 39 -- 7 -- 3 -- 6 -- 18% -- $528,205
Winning Favorites Report
(Current Through Thursday, August 28, 2008)
Winning favorites -- 107 out of 323 -- 33.13%
Winning favorites on main track -- 74 out of 247 -- 29.96%
Winning favorites on turf -- 33 out of 76 -- 43.42%
Winning odds-on favorites -- 21 out of 40 -- 52.50%
In-the-Money favorites -- 234 out of 323 -- 72.45%
In-the-Money odds-on favorites -- 35 out of 40 -- 87.50%